Class Five and Six
It is said the longest journey a person must make is the distance from their head to their heart. As we turn our heads to look back down the steep, and sometimes rocky path we have travelled up this year, our hearts open up in awareness of the heights that we have scaled and the achievements we have attained in reaching these lofty December peaks.
If you shade your eyes, you may still be able to see the distant foothills where the journey began. There, between those two distant rivers, in the land of Mesopotamia we set out, what now seems an age ago. Through the delights of Ancient Persia and the arid Geography of Australian History, past Decimal point with its crashing surf and on across the rolling hills of Grammar-land our intrepid guide, Eliza, led us on fearlessly.After passing through the scorching sands of Ancient Egypt without so much as a bite to eat our weary travellers cried out in joy upon arrival in the near mythical area of food vans!
Sadly, it was here that we parted ways with our beloved guide and mentor Eliza. Many tears were shed as she explained that her path called her in a new direction and that she also must follow her heart. Our suffering was very real, but the wisdom of the Buddha helped us to accept that change itself, is inevitable. Two new guides were sought, one for each of Eliza’s large and well-travelled shoes.
Kate and Ashley led us out of Ancient India, over the mountains and down to the city-states of Ancient Greece where we were immediately thrown into intense physical training in preparation for the Olympics. The oracle of Delphi herself could not have foreseen the transformation of our ragged band into the graceful athletes you now behold. A gruelling Spartan regime was forced upon us by our new trainers. Democracy was much spoken of but very little in evidence as experienced athletes were forced to reveal their secrets of success and survival to those seeking to eclipse their exploits. As our chariot rolled into Olympia, we set up camp by a frog infested lake and tried, without much luck, to get some sleep. After exploring the wonders of culture found within this exciting metropolis our elder citizens sought adventure in the hills as our younger athletes covered themselves in glory on the field.
Upon return, we explored the wonders of English Language and Literacy and travelled to Hades and back to keep the seasons turning. All daughters, including Persephone, were returned to their mothers unhurt, albeit not entirely unchanged, and even the boys emerged relatively unscathed.
Inspired by the unceasing questioning of the Socratic method and the great thinkers of antiquity we then began to question the very nature of existence itself through the study of physics. The class took the matter in hand even as the guides wondered where they were going to find the energy! Experiments with sound, light, magnetism and electricity were conducted and exciting discoveries made.
Here on the rugged heights, we still follow the golden vein of Australian History that led us here even as we cast our eyes over the Geometry of the school year. Our heads are clear as we gaze ahead to what the future may have in store and our hearts are full, with the certain knowledge that it has, indeed, been a journey. Long may they hold the memories of friends that we have made upon the way!
